ST. MARY OF EGYPT.
“The virtues build a new person radiating love to the world.”
(Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo who consecrated our temple.)
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:15-16)
“Humility and Love, there you have it. This is everything.”
(St. Paisios)
“If you want to be free of your passions, your medicine is to be simple, humble, to take in, like the good earth, both the rain and the hail along with the rubbish and the spittle. When one accepts external humiliations, he’s quickly freed from his old self... Blessed one, when you are given an opportunity for humility, accept it. This is how humility is acquired.” (St. Paisios)
SUNDAY 29TH MARCH. St. Mary of Egypt. Hieromartyr Mark, Bishop of Arethusa, & Martyr Cyril the Deacon, of Heliopolis, who suffered under Julian the Apostate (c 364). St. Diodochos, Bishop of Photiki (5th).
TODAY’S GOSPEL. Mark 10:32-45. “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able. So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall be not so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””
Today we remember St. Mary of Egypt, a great sinner who spent many years in the desert in great asceticism atoning for her sins. This repentant sinner is an example to us all, no one of us who come to God acknowledging our sins is turned away. We confess our sins that we may be healed by the Physician of Physicians, that our leprous souls may be cleansed. We remember the Prodigal Son welcomed back by his father after squandering his inheritance on a life of debauchery and vice. We remember the paralytic let down through the roof who was healed by Christ telling him that his sins were forgiven. We remember the thief on the cross whom Jesus assured would be with Him in paradise that very day. But as we approach Holy Pascha we remember, we remember the words of our dying Saviour, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Such is the love of God for us.
Then in the Gospel we see James and John, after hearing of Christ telling the disciples what would happen to Him, asking the favour of sitting next to Him in His glory. In no uncertain terms Jesus tells us that to be the greatest in His eyes is to be the least among us. To be great is to consider ourselves to be the lowest of the low and to be servants of all. Jesus tells us that He came not to be served but to serve, the ultimate example of the humility and love of the Lord of all. In our own times do we not see the “Gentile” rulers lording it over the world, causing destruction and harm to so many? We see people falling for the myth of nationalism and fear of the foreigner and the unremembered lessons of history repeating itself over and over again. We should see and be grateful for each little act of kindness, each little act of compassion, each little helping hand and be grateful that in the world of today we have people of humility and love, who are usually unaware of being servants. True humility comes from a heart that struggles for the truth, that struggles to search for and find the path that leads to God. St. Mary of Egypt may be an extreme example of such a struggle but our own struggles in humble acceptance of God’s love for us will be rewarded.
Much Love,
Fr. George.
On Wednesday 1st April at 7.00 pm the Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified will be served. On Saturday 4th April at 4.00 pm Great Vespers will be served. If you are able to attend this will be a great joy for the Parish. Please continue to pray for peace in the world and for all who are afflicted by illness and suffering of any kind.